Quarter-Sawing with Peterson Flat (Plain) Sawing The fastest way of converting a log to timber with most sawmills, is by flat sawing. A flat sawn board is where the grain lines are mostly parallel with the wide side of the board. This type of timber is good for most general- purpose uses, and is very strong when nailed through. Flat sawn lumber is the most commonly produced as it is very quick to cut and creates less waste. The Flat sawing method of cutting boards is great when dealing with high- tensioned logs. Firstly, you are simply working your way through the log, taking one board at a time and allowing the log to release tension slowly. Secondly, the sawn boards from tensioned logs will bow with the wider flat surface, making the boards easier to straighten during drying. Flat sawn boards will also have more warp during drying, as the uneven grain shrinks. Therefore boards simply need to be straightened through correct fillet stacking and being weighted down during the drying process. Flat sawn boards can be a disadvantage when used for applications such as treads on a staircase, as they can flex or bend when under pressure. But they are great for applications where you will be nailing through the board, as they are less prone to splitting. It is also harder to match the grain when laminating boards together, but these boards can be very beautiful due to the rich variety of pattern on the surface. Quarter (Grade) Sawing The alternative is quarter-sawn timber, where the grain lines are parallel with the narrow side of the board. This type of timber is beneficial in furniture making, as it is very stable and dries more evenly. Quarter sawn lumber produces more visible grain, which is ideal for use in areas on display such as cabinets and doors etc. Some species of trees such as oak reveal beautiful ray flecks when quarter sawn, so these boards are prized among furniture craftsman. The grain lines are also tighter together and more consistent on the surface of the board, producing a more even appearance. They are much easier to match the grain when boards are laminated together. Quarter sawn boards behave in the opposite manner to flat sawn lumber when drying. They have a lot less flex on the flat because the grain runs perpendicular to the face of the board. Quarter sawn boards are quite stable and very strong, and are therefore ideal for use in weight-bearing applications as well. However it is very hard to saw true ¼-sawn boards on most sawmills, as the log has to be dissected and rotated to get the exact board grain. For many sawmills, producing quarter sawn boards takes longer to cut, produces less board footage (cubage) and creates more waste. Petersons Global Sales Ltd PO Box 10077, 15C Hyland Crescent, Rotorua, New Zealand. Tel/Fax: +64 7 348 0863 www.petersonsawmills.com It is much easier to saw such boards on the Peterson swingblade sawmill, as it is very easy to change the plane or direction of sawn boards throughout the log. The flexibility of a Peterson Portable Sawmill makes cutting quarter sawn lumber an easy task with minimal effect to production figures, speed of cut or waste. The unique design of the Peterson Portable Sawmill allows you to cut quarter sawn boards directly from the log with no additional log turning or board handling. Having the Electric Winch upgrade on your Peterson mill makes the process even easier and quicker. NOTE: When quarter sawing lumber from high-tension logs, the grain will cause the board to bow like a banana along the narrow side of the board. As quarter sawn boards are very strong, bending these boards straight is almost impossible. For this reason we recommend flat sawing if you have highly tensioned logs. Step-by-step Example: Quarter Sawing a 1 ½’ Log with a Peterson Mill NQS = Not Quarter Sawn (the Rift Sawn pieces that you will end up with) 1. Remove the top bark slab off your new log (2 bites?). 2. Return left of the log, lower a full 4” and remove the first little slab wedge. 3. Wind right by 2” and raise by 2”. Remove the little slab wedge. 4. Lower 2” and remove the 2x2 board. 5. Wind right by 1” and raise by 3”. Remove the little slab wedge. 6. Lower 3” and remove the 1x3 board. 7. Wind right by 2” and remove the first vertical quartersawn 2x4 board. 8. Wind right by 1” increments to remove the next two vertical 1x4 boards. 9. Wind right by 1” and raise by 3”. Remove the little slab wedge. 10. Lower by 3” and remove the 1x3 board. 11. Wind right by 2” and raise by 2”. Remover the little slab wedge. 12. Lower by 2” and remove the 2x2 board, then the remaining slab wedge. 13. Return all the way left of the log, lower 1” and remove the little slab wedge. 14. Wind right 4” and remove your horizontal quartersawn 1x4 board. 15. Wind left 4”, lower 1” and remove the little slab wedge. 16. Wind right 4” and remove the next horizontal 1x4 quartersawn board. 17. Wind left 4”, lower 2” and remove the little slab wedge. 18. Wind right and remove the 2x4 quartersawn board. 19. Wind right 4” and remove the square pith block. 20. Wind right 4” and raise 2”. Remove the horizontal 2x4. 21. Lower by 2” and remove the next horizontal 2x4. Remove the slab wedge remaining. 22. Return all the way left of the log and lower by 2”. Remove the little slab wedge. 23. Wind right by 2” and remove the 2x2. 24. Lower by 1” and remove the little slab wedge. 25. Wind right by 1” and remove the 1x3 board. 26. Lower by 1” and remove the little slab wedge. 27. Wind right by 1” and remove the vertical quartersawn 1x4 board. Continue to wind right and remove the next 2 vertical boards. 28. Raise by 1” and wind right by 1”. Remove the 1x3 board. 29. Raise by 1” and wind right by 1”. Remove the 1x2 board. Written by Kerris Browne Petersons Global Sales Ltd PO Box 10077, 15C Hyland Crescent, Rotorua, New Zealand. Tel/Fax: +64 7 348 0863 www.petersonsawmills.com .